Kosketinpari

Kosketinpari is a Finnish term used in electronics to denote a pair of electrical contacts that operate together inside a switching device. The term combines kosketin, meaning contact or switch surface, with pari, meaning pair. In practice, a kosketinpari refers to two conductive surfaces designed to open or close a circuit as a unit, such as the paired contacts in a relay, a microswitch, or a reed switch assembly. The arrangement may be a normally open and normally closed contact pair (NO/NC) or two normally open contacts, depending on the device’s function. The concept is important in describing the switching behavior and the electrical characteristics of a component, including contact resistance, bounce, and current rating.

In Finnish technical writing, kosketinpari is a specialized term and may be used as a synonym for contact pair or contact pair set, especially in datasheets and circuit diagrams. The term is most common in mechanical-electrical equipment, control systems, and instrumentation. Non-specialist texts might simply refer to "two contacts" rather than using the compound term.

Etymology: Derived from kosketin (contact/keyboard key) and pari (pair). See also kosketin (contact), kytkin (switch), and kontakti (contact). This article provides a concise overview of the term and its typical usage in Finnish technical language.